Have Serbia and the EU Fallen Out For Good? 

To abandon the EU, first you need to be in the EU…

Seebia doesn't want to be a part of EU anyway. Your time is gone. Europe is just an American servant.

If they think corruption in Serbia is a big issue for joining the EU, I wonder how they allowed Ukraine to become a candidate.

Who gives a f..k for EU anymore, anyway !?

Oh no, what a terrible loss for the EU... - said nobody, ever.

Won't shed a tear. Even if Serbia was leaning towards the EU and we'd take them in, I expect them to be a trojan horse on the long run, like Hungary sometimes is now.

This is a difficult matter. While the EU advocates for the preservation of the country's territorial integrity in the case of Ukraine and Georgia, it demands that Serbia give up its territorial integrity and renounce forever the territories occupied by NATO in the 1999 war. It is understandable that this offends the Serbs. If Serbia is rejected by the EU, Kosovo's EU integration may also be hindered and the stabilization of the Balkans will fail.

Oh wait Serbian people doesn't even want to be member of that idiotic union.

Does no one else find the eu recognition of Kosovo a bit hypocritical when they basically ignored Spain saying Catalonia’s independence vote was illegal?

Of course you simply ignored the fact that the Kosovo side is blocking any progress in relations. They did absolutely nothing that was signed 10 years ago.

Serbia's EU dream - said nobody in Serbia ever 😂 How ignorant are these so called news. Serbia was accepted in Eu consul in borders that include Kosovo. Not all Eu member stated recognize Kosovo secession. Also calling Nato ,, bombing campaign " sounds a lot like ,, special military operation " does it?

Can't decide if I am more impressed by misleading title of the video or amount of hate towards Serbia in comments

Recently, Russia played a soccer match against another European country for the first time since the start of the war. Of course it was Serbia.

So many hate for Serbia in comment section... Sad for someone saying how they're democrats and open-minded.... Saying this as pro-EU and someone against current Government here.

Kosovo will never get into EU, Romania and Spain will never allow it for once, Heck Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece don't recognize it! Cyprus, Hungary, Romania and Spain, voted against approving Kosovo's membership for the Council of Europe

This is quite unnerving for me as a Serb, and it's not just because I'd like for us to join the EU, but because I believe that the whole EU accession progress was one of the biggest things holding our government in check, since they needed to keep up appearances at least. Now I believe we'll be seeing even more authoritarianism...

imagineyou are the abusive dad, and you expect to be the role model for your kid. NATO bombarding was against international law in 1999 and they now are expecting Serbia to like the EU ?

Since Great Britain left the EU I see us Serbs now have multiple choices. We can either join EU or Great Britain

Vucic is not that dumb. Not crazy to join the sinking ship piloted by the same who just brought their own bridge :) On the other side , wasn’t he quiet until he saw how Russia brought entire Europe and west to the knees.m? Now he has pretty good friends. India , China, Russia … soon to be more

Don't worry, guys, it's just Serbia decided to join Switzerland in 'I-am-the-hole-in-EU-maps' club

Honestly despite Kosovo not being in nato there are natos troops in Kosovo and serbia knows this. They wont do crap since unlike the 90s NATO suronds serbia on all sides now

So the EU can recognise Kosovo as independent, but can't recognise the Donbass? Stinking hypocrisy.

eu should stop acting like they ever wanted Serbia in EU to begin with. It was just false hope until Vucic gave Kosovo everything they asked for. Now that its done deal they dont ned Serbia anymore.

Serbs already ditched Europe, like years ago. They are firmly in pro-russian camp. If you think otherwise, ask yourself how much stuff did they sent to help Ukraine.

This video is full of BS. Complete spin.

Serbia never liked being under the rule of colonizers.

ThanksMuch for posting !

Kosovo isn't really independent, without subsidies from the US and EU it would collapse.

And go where,Serbia?!?nowhere to go..

The Council of Europe is not part of the EU. As Serbia is not part of the EU

A lot of hate towards Serbia in the comments

Why would they want to join the EU right at the point where it's beginning to fall apart? Better to stay on good terms with Russia and China.

Good, we wont have another hungary..

so the EU does not accept Crimea to become Russian but got Kosovo to become independent ....i understand why Sebia is unhappy.

Serbia has a right to be pist off. Forget the bloody past; it is the now. The Balkan politics are nuts; and looks messy. Whether or not they are right or not to be mad about license plates that led to boycotts etc; they are angry.

Serbia was never in the EU. Vucic is never going to abandon the branch that supports him (EU), and is warmongering since he has elections and needs voters.

You cannot abandon what you've never been a part of.

Serbia. Not surprised at all...

7:36 you seam not to understand. Let me be simple: Serbs dont want EU since we consider that madhouse and

The misinformation and misguided reading of events in this video is just next level.

No one will miss Serbia in EU.

This will save the EU to make the same mistake it did with Hungary.

Im from Serbia, also have a Hungarian citizenship. Honestly 0 benefit for my country to be in the EU, i look at all the neighboring countries and people barely live better. Sure all of you can write these comments against Serbia, but now you can have fun with Kosovo which will drag you down more then anyone.

Many EU countries like Germany , Italy and France attacked Serbia 30 years ago and made it a small country that is now. How is it possible for Serbia to want to be in the club which harmed them in the recent past?

*insert Jeremy Clarkson's ''Oh no! Anyway..'' meme*

"Friendship ended with Europe, now Russia is my best friend"

I, for one, certainly hope that Serbia will ditch negotiations with the EU. Why isn't Britain in that organisation if it is such a blessing?

It's funny when you talk about media freedoms in Serbia as if they exist in the EU.

... and nothing of value will be lost.

Not everything is roses and rainbows in Serbia but there is steady growth and the demographics are still far better in Serbia than they are in neighbouring Bulgaria, the Republic of North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina. China invests a lot in Serbia and they see that EU accession has not done miracles to Croatia (had it not been for tourism Croatia would be poorer than Albania) so Serbs feel they have more to gain by fixing their eyes eastwards.

I see here people think that Serbia abandoning the EU wouldn't be a big deal for the EU. But if Serbia actually does this where will the government of Serbia turn next? To China primarily for finance, and Russia for everything else. Not to mention that this would potentially mean China and Russia actually building military bases and being deeper integrated into the middle of the Europe (since Serbia would need protection from further EU and NATO pressure, economically and militarily) with easy access to influence all other aspiring EU candidates. Bosnia and Hercegovina would break apart first, then Montenegro will do something as it has Serbian majority, an invasion of Kosovo (if you can even call it that since no country can invade parts of itself) ... I don't think that would be fun for the EU to deal with. Not to mention that Serbia has an alternative. BRICS. edit: Btw, the only thing keeping Serbia on the EU path is the government. Vast majority of people don't want to join the EU neither. We've given up enough.

Wow! The amount of hate! What the heck did ordinary Serb do to any of you? The sacrifices we made on both world wars are so quickly forgotten.

We rightly condemn Russia for using military force to nick off chunks of its sovereign neighbors with Russian speaking minorities. However NATO committed the same crime by occupying and forcibly partitioning Serbia. Kosovo is a part of Serbia under NATO occupation. Period. I say that having ZERO love for Serbia, but either sovereign borders mean something or they don't. If the Council of Europe admits a forcibly detached part of Serbia as a member they validate Russia's invasion and criminal partition of sovereign Georgia and the invasion and annexation of swaths of Ukraine. Why this ill-timed little gesture of hypocrisy appeals to Strasbourg now is especially inexplicable. And what shall we say to the Georgians about Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Might makes right? Rules are for the other guy? Kosovo is Serbian territory whether we like it or not.

As a Bulgarian respect both Serbians and Albanians, and already moved on with historic issues. Serbians in the past had more enemies during Yugoslavia and tensions with the Albanians. I think Serbia can use diplomacy with Kosovo. Bulgaria lost North Macedonia because it is just "too late" and similar to Kosovo, there is a very strong anti-Serbian rhetoric similar to the strong anti-Bulgarian one in North Macedonia. In the Balkans we are all traumatised with history and hence failing to progess a society. Kosovo is made up of an overwhelming Albanian population and not Serbs. Have the feeling they are logically more attached to Albania. Same as North Macedonians more attached to the rest of ex-Yugoslavia. It is what is. Serbia today has a strong challenge and divided between the EU and Russia and logically still traumatised by NATO. But, a decision should be made.

Most people don't realize is that this could become another Cuban missile crisis type of shit Serbian geography being surrounded by Nato and Eu would make it good candidate to be used like cuba was . it really depends on what Serbian Government does . And to be fair It is a bit of hypocritical by Eu criticism of Serbia when Ukraine which didn't have election since Zelensky came to power and is supported to join EU

please let me see how you twitch and glitch when you compare Crimea and Donbas in Ukraine to Kosovo, while your brain is struggling not to combust violently

3:18 *"Normalisation"?* - when have 🇽🇰Kosovo & 🇷🇸Serbia even had any relations in the first place? Serbia doesn't even recognise Kosovo's existence to begin with 🤣

And the EU should care... Why again? They've been fence sitting for a long time now and if they don't want to learn the lesson Armenia learned recently, then so be it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Wait, Serbia might jeopardize its relationship with the EU, its biggest trading partner? That would be economic madness! Who would ever be so stupid, so arrogant, so shortsighted?

I don't know why Europe doesn't take it is own requirements more seriously. There are so many European countries that shouldn't be in the EU.

If Serbs know what´s good for them long term they´ll join BRICS instead of EU. The time of EU is ticking away anyway. Collapse of EU is unavoidable. I give it 10 years max.

Vucic's lower lip is so big its blue from lack of blood flow.

An Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, is a planned inter-municipal association of ethnic Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo. The proposal for the association came as a result of the 2013 Brussels Agreement negotiated and concluded by the governments of Kosovo and Serbia. This is what the MAIN PROBLEM. YOU EVEN DO NOT MENTION IT!!!

As a Serbian I can confirm we never wanted anything from EU. We don't want EU. It would be beneficial for both sides if EU stop pulling us in. Pressuring us... I hope we (random people in Europe) can all agree on that?

To be fair Considering how too close for comfort Serbia is to Russia Unless something drastically changes, nothing of value is completely lost

Would a minor reason be that Serbia is a very conservative and religious country? And the locals do not like the secular and liberal values as far as I know?

EU had over 80% support in Serbian population until 2008 unilateral declaration of independence of it's south province of Kosovo. EU supported Kosovo over Serbia by putting lot of pressure on Serbia to accept and recognize Kosovo's independence. Serbian people was disappointed by these EU measures and popular support started a steady decline. Instead of doing something to improve this, EU continued with pressure and made Serbia to sit down with government of Kosovo in order to normalize relations. Brussels agreement was signed in 2013, making concessions to Kosovo but guarantees for Union of Serbian municipalities. Most of concessions to Kosovo government were fulfilled but Serbs never got their most important condition fulfilled. Albin Kurti said on many occasions that he will not create Union of Serbian municipalities as he never agreed on that and he didn't signed that Brussels agreement. Instead of sanctioning Kosovo or cutting support for Kosovo, EU kept the pressure on Belgrade. As a result of EU policy toward it's Serbian supporters, people feel insulted, lied to, tricked, sold out. Everything Serbian ultra nationalists were warning people of came true. So supporting EU after everything that happened is not logical at all. Then after war in Ukraine started, western politicians all united to preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Western politicians are saying to Serbia to accept Kosovo's independence since territorial integrity and sovereignty are things of past, it doesn't matter, lets move forward. Now somehow, when it's not the Serbs, and the invader isn't NATO, now it's not obsolete, now war is a very good option, peace is not. Well as someone who was a refugee and felt NATO bombs falling just 300m from my home, I can say that EU is sending mixed signals. Best example of western hypocrisy is the shelling of Sarajevo in 1992-1995 by Bosnian Serbs. As a result of this, Serbs were bombed by NATO, UN sanctions were imposed for excessive use of force against civilians, as it was explained. Well Ukraine armed forces are shelling predominantly Russian city of Donetsk 2014-2024. They fired most likely 3 times more shells on the city, killed more civilians then Bosnian Serbs, more than 700 childred so far. What the west did? How was Ukrain punished for using excessive force against it's citizens? Did NATO bombed them, NO, they are arming them and training them. Did UN imposed sanctions on them NO, they send them billions of financial aid. All this made Serbs who once supported joining the EU think about double standards used toward Serbs. So no, thank you, Serbs don't want to be a member of EU who is acting as enemy of Serbia.

Very nice. Somebody finally mentioned the Council of Europe and gave a quick explanation. You don't join the EU unless you are in the Council of Europe first.

Well, given that every Serb with a university degree will look for a job in the EU/CH/UK/US arena, it is a greater loss for Serbia, than it is for the EU. The Serbian administration, however, can profit from it, like the US does, by taxing the income of their citizens living abroad. Which, of course, will have a permanent effect on their demographics, because most young people will denounce their Serbian citizenship, when they become eligible for their host country one.

Good. Put up road blocks around it. no more access to the shared prosperity they take for granted.

All of this is overblown and not as important in Serbia. There is no ultimatum, you are just seeing things. Serbia is not in position to issue any ultimatum. Also, Vučić when he came to power wanted to recognize Kosovo, but as he saw that he could lose next elections because of that he backed down. He (and serbs in Kosovo and Metohija) are just desperate that we are not getting almost any support in EU, while they call on both sides to agree and normalize, but at the same time, Kosovo gov didn't do anything but signed the agreement in 2013 and didn't do anything from that agreement. Serbia did everything we were asked, and Kosovo gov is openly saying they are not going to fulfill what they signed. So stop presenting us as aggressors. We plead for your help.

"Wait for the best moment and seize the opportunity". Thats basically like saying "...or else".

Euh yes please. Dont need another Hungary lol

Poland turned from Visegrad to Weimar Group. Meaning stronger alignment with West Europe. But Serbia, Hungary and Slowakia cooperate unter Russian/Chinese order to dimantle the EU from inside Europe. That Serbia is something like Kaliningrad inside EU / NATO space was known for a long time. But now it comes more concrete.

Oh no! Anyway..

Dont let the door hit you on the way out

Serbia and democracy. HA. HA. HA. HA. HA!

Hungary too hopefully...

Yes, it's unequivocally over. Serbia has chosen the Kremlin if you look closely at the composition of the new Serbian government.

As Serb i really don't Understand what is going on in EU an they are constantly against Serbia and want to Serbs love and respect them? Yes Kosovo is ilegal state its taken by force recognized by breaking all international laws and UN, dispite that Serbs in Kosovo still suffer and have 0 rights and freedom what entire EU trun blind aye. Double standards and arrgoance is disgusting.

Okay bye

No offense to Serbia but EU is better off without them, we don't need a Hungary 2.0 situation.

If they're gonna accept Kosovo well... I completly get it. Then Transnistria, North Osethia or like a North Cyprus.

The EU doesn't need Serbia. The only reason to cooperate with Serbia is to motivate their transition towards a more open and democratic society. If Serbia doesn't want that, then they are welcome to lie down Infront of the Moscow train.

Not a great loss. Serbia is just a Russian satellite.

These world leaders can be so petty

People watching these things have zero girlfriends

Well done 👍🏼, thanks for this information ❤

No one in Europe gives a crap if Serbia wants in or out - EU needs absolutely nothing from little Serbia, with a tiny economy and pathetic military 😂😂😂

Even though it seems like everyone is blaming Serbia for its decidion and only marginally recognizing ASM its good to finally hear why Serbia is doing it ofcourse focusing on the effects and no the cause is a little wrong since you're not really giving the background of the issue but rather the background of Serbia overall 25 years ago... Its like saying that because of what any country did in the 90's its a bad country.

and this is why you can't just accept anyone at any moment

A lot of the world doesn’t accept Kosovo as a state. That’s facts

Vučić is playing both with EU and Russia, since EU provides support for various projects and Russia supports Serbia's territorial integrity (although this is questionable, having in mind current Russian position in international community). However, I'm sure Vučić will have to decide at one moment and as a Serbian citizen I sincerely hope it will be in favor of EU no matter lack of their support regarding our territorial integrity. Most of our trade is being done with EU so it doesn't make sense to do anything else.

"Tell me you're a supervillain without telling me you're a supervillain." "I was in the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party."

The way they have been behaving better so.

60% of Serbs don't want to join the EU, because too long they postpone the joining and we would need to give one part of our territory. With this Serbia can start recognizing Bavaria or Wallonia as separate states if they ever decide to self-proclaimed their independence. Same for the French territories and ext.

Serbia's democracy is in danger for moving away from the EU. At the same time EU dictates to Serbia to acknowledge a "country " that was established and currently lead by radical Islamist terrorists by acts of violence, terrorism and ethnic cleansing, after NATO illegal aggression on Serbia designed to overthrow a government that has had a majority support in Serbia. Oh the irony. In 2012 was the first and last time I have voted for Vucic. The reason was he had promised Serbia will end integrations to the fourth reich (aka EU). Let us hope and pray he will finally fulfil that promise.

Well im a little late but as a serbian i need to correct you. I gotta say i appreciate that you aren't looking on Serbia only based on kosovo. Stiill there's one major point that the western Media is missing. There's no way that Ssrbia will abandon the EU and invade kosovo. vucic is an autocrat that only cares about his power and he knows he wouldn't keep it if he invaded kosovo. Also i really hope you will cover the upcoming elections in Belgrade cause they will be THE most importan ones in Serbian history. Cheers

I don't understand why you don't study history🤔

People it is not about EU but about Council of Europe, human rights organisation that has 47 member states, even Russia used to be part of it.